Prime Minister’s Adviser on the Ministry of Finance and Planning Dr Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir on Monday described the government’s newly announced “Family Card” programme as a landmark initiative aimed at reforming Bangladesh’s social safety net system, reducing wastage and ensuring benefits reach intended recipients.
“If you consider the circumstances and the legacy of economic pressures we received, this programme is a groundbreaking step,” he said.
Speaking at a press conference at the Multipurpose Hall of the Ministry of Finance on the eve of the programme’s launch, Titumir said the initiative should be viewed in the context of the economic challenges the government inherited.
Titumir said Bangladesh has already made progress toward achieving several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that had remained unmet in the past.
He expressed hope that the new programme would further strengthen the government’s efforts to ensure inclusive development and social protection.
Referring to the current geopolitical and economic uncertainties, he said the government is closely monitoring global developments, including the evolving situation in the broader Middle East, which could have implications for Bangladesh’s economy.
At the same time, he acknowledged reports indicating a rise in poverty and weaknesses in existing social protection programmes.
“Various studies and media reports have pointed out that many of our social safety net programmes suffer from significant inclusion and exclusion errors—people who should receive support are often left out, while those who should not receive it sometimes remain on the list,” he said.
According to the adviser, the Family Card programme has been designed to address these longstanding structural problems.
“This is the first programme in Bangladesh intended to rise above those structural issues,” he added.
He said the programme would eventually provide universal coverage and would be implemented in phases to reach all four crore families across the country.
Titumir also clarified concerns about financing the initiative, saying a substantial portion of the funding would come from improving efficiency within existing social safety net programmes.
“If you look at current programmes, statistics consistently show that wastage is very high,” he said. “By shifting to a digital system, we will be able to significantly reduce that wastage and ensure benefits reach the right people more quickly.”
The adviser also said the government has a clear plan to gradually increase the tax-to-GDP ratio to strengthen fiscal capacity and sustainably support social protection programmes.
“Reducing waste and adopting digital systems is the most effective way to reform social safety nets,” Titumir said, adding that the government is committed to ensuring transparency, efficiency and fairness in distributing public support.